lymphosarcoma cell leukemia

leukemia

[loo-ke´me-ah]

a progressive, malignant neoplasm of the blood-forming organs, marked by diffuse replacement of the bone marrow development of leukocytes and their precursors in the blood and bone marrow. It is accompanied by a reduced number of erythrocytes and blood platelets, resulting in anemia and increased susceptibility to infection and hemorrhage. Other typical symptoms include fever, pain in the joints and bones, and swelling of the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. adj., adj leuke´mic.

Types of Leukemia. Leukemia is classified clinically in several ways: (1) acute versus chronic, terms that have become altered from their usual meanings and refer to the degree of cell differentiation; (2) the predominant proliferating cells: myelocytic, granulocytic, or lymphocytic; and (3) increase in or maintenance of the number of abnormal cells in the blood—preleukemic.

Acute leukemia is characterized by fatigue, headache, sore throat, and dyspnea, followed by symptoms of acute tonsillitis, stomatitis, bleeding from the mucous membranes of the mouth, alimentary canal, and rectum, and pain in the bones and joints. There eventually is enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. Common to all leukemias are the tendency to bleed and the resultant anemia and increased susceptibility to infection. The diagnosis of leukemia requires confirmation of leukemic cells in the bone marrow by bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. Abnormalities may also be seen in peripheral blood smears.

Treatment. The treatment of choice is systemic combination chemotherapy with a variety of antineoplastic drug regimens. The disease can also be treated by a bone marrow transplant after a remission is achieved with chemotherapy.

Patient Care. Leukemia affects almost every system within the body and can present a variety of patient care problems. Of primary concern are those symptoms attendant to suppression of normal bone marrow function, particularly susceptibility to infection due to the predominance of immature and abnormally functioning white blood cells, bleeding tendency owing to decreased platelet count, and anemia due to decreased erythrocyte count. Chronic abnormal tissue perfusion, increased need for rest, and decreased sensitivity to heat and cold require careful planning and intervention. Additionally, the patient will need relief from pain and discomfort arising from enlargement of the lymph nodes and distention of the liver and spleen.

Because of the malignant nature of leukemia and the fear and anxiety created by the knowledge that one has a form of cancer, patients and their families and significant others will need help in coping with anxiety, mental depression, and realistic fears about dying and death. The financial burden of the illness and disruption of the life of the individual and the family also impose a special burden on them. Referral to appropriate persons and agencies that can help meet their needs is an essential part of the holistic care of the patient with leukemia.

acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (acute lymphocytic leukemia) acute leukemia of the lymphoblastic type, one of the two major categories of acute leukemia, primarily affecting young children. Symptoms include anemia, fatigue, weight loss, easy bruising, thrombocytopenia, granulocytopenia with bacterial infections, bone pain, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and sometimes spread to the central nervous system (meningism) or to other organs. There are three major subtypes: The pre–B-cell is the most common, consisting of small uniform lymphoblasts that do not synthesize complete functional immunoglobulins or synthesize heavy chains only. The B-cell type is rare and consists of lymphoblasts that express surface immunoglobulins and have a surface translocation similar to that of Burkitt's lymphoma. The T-cell type has cells that express surface antigens characteristic of T cells.

acute promyelocytic leukemiaacute myelogenous leukemia in which more than half the cells are malignant promyelocytes, often associated with abnormal bleeding secondary to thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, and decreased levels of coagulation factor V; it usually occurs in young adults. Called also promyelocytic leukemia.

adult T-cell leukemia (adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma) a form of leukemia with onset in adulthood, leukemic cells with T-cell properties, frequent dermal involvement, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly, and a subacute or chronic course; it is associated with human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus.

chronic granulocytic leukemiachronic leukemia of the myelogenous type, occurring mainly between the age of 25 and 60, usually associated with a unique chromosomal abnormality. The major clinical manifestations of malaise, hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, and leukocytosis are related to abnormal, excessive, unrestrained overgrowth of granulocytes in the bone marrow. Called also chronic myelocytic or chronic myeloid leukemia.

chronic lymphocytic leukemiachronic leukemia of the lymphoblastic type, a common form mainly seen in the elderly; symptoms include lymphadenopathy, fatigue, renal involvement, and pulmonary leukemic infiltrates. Circulating malignant cells are usually differentiated B-lymphocytes; a minority of cases have mixed T and B lymphocytes or entirely T-lymphocytes.

chronic myelomonocytic leukemia a slowly progressing form of chronic leukemia that usually affects the elderly and sometimes progresses to acute myelomonocytic leukemia. Symptoms include splenomegaly, monocytosis with granulocytosis, and thrombocytopenia.

leukemia cu´tis leukemia with leukocytic invasion of the skin marked by pink, reddish brown, or purple macules, papules, and tumors.

eosinophilic leukemia a form of leukemia in which the eosinophil is the predominating cell. Although resembling chronic granulocytic leukemia in many ways, this form may follow an acute course despite the absence of predominantly blast forms in the peripheral blood.

hairy cell leukemia a form of chronic leukemia marked by splenomegaly and by an abundance of abnormal large mononuclear cells covered by hairlike villi (hairy cells) in the bone marrow, spleen, liver, and peripheral blood. Called also leukemic reticuloendotheliosis.

plasma cell leukemia (plasmacytic leukemia) a rare type in which the predominating cell in the peripheral blood is the plasma cell; it is often seen in asociation with multiple myeloma.

prolymphocytic leukemia a type of chronic leukemia marked by large numbers of circulating lymphocytes, predominantly prolymphocytes, with massive splenomegaly and occasionally lymphadenopathy; prognosis is often poor.

Rieder cell leukemia a form of acute myelogenous leukemia in which the blood contains the abnormal cells called Rieder's lymphocytes, asynchronously developed lymphocytes that have immature cytoplasm and a lobulated, indented, comparatively more mature nucleus.

lymphosarcoma cell leukemia

[-särkō′mə]

Etymology: L, lympha + Gk, sarx, flesh, oma, tumor

a malignancy of blood-forming tissues characterized by many lymphosarcoma cells in the peripheral circulation that tend to infiltrate surrounding tissues. These cells are extremely immature and larger and more reticulated than lymphocytes. The disease may accompany lymphoma or exist as a separate entity with bone marrow involvement. Also called lymphoblastic lymphoma.

leukemia

a progressive, malignant disease of the blood-forming organs, marked by distorted proliferation and development of leukocytes and their precursors in the blood and bone marrow. Signs include fever and enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen and liver. The persistent lymphocytosis that occurs in some cattle is a response to infection with the bovine viral leukosis virus. Similarly, leukemia may occur in the lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative diseases caused by feline leukemia virus in cats.

leukemia associated with hyperplasia and overactivity of the lymphoid tissue, in which the leukocytes are lymphocytes or lymphoblasts.

lymphosarcoma cell leukemia

a form marked by large numbers of lymphosarcoma cells in the peripheral blood; depending on the degree of bone marrow involvement, it may be a variant of lymphosarcoma.

mast cell leukemia

a form marked by overwhelming numbers of tissue mast cells in the peripheral blood.

megakaryoblastic leukemia

a rare disease of young dogs, characterized by intestinal hemorrhage, anemia and a fatal outcome within a few weeks. There is a pancytopenia and marked thrombocytopenia.

megakaryocytic leukemia

a form with numerous megakaryocytes in the spleen, bone marrow, and other tissues, but decreased numbers or abnormal thrombocytes in the peripheral blood, and anemia. Reported in dogs and cats. Called also megakaryocytic myelosis.

monocytic leukemia

leukemia in which the predominating leukocytes are monocytes.

myeloblastic leukemia

characterized by a predominance of immature myeloid series of cells in the blood; largely a disease of young male dogs and cats.

myelocytic leukemia, myelogenous leukemia, myeloid leukemia

a form arising from myeloid tissue in which the granular polymorphonuclear leukocytes and their precursors predominate.

myelomonocytic leukemia

concurrent neoplasia of the neutrophilic and monocytic cell lines with a monocytic leukemia, a high total leukocyte count, anemia and thrombocytopenia.

plasma cell leukemia, plasmacyte leukemia

a form in which the predominating cell in the peripheral blood is the plasma cell.

premyelocytic leukemia

a form in which the predominant cells are premyeloblasts, rather than myeloblasts, often associated with abnormal bleeding secondary to thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia and decreased levels of clotting factor V.

promyelocytic leukemia

characterized by a predominance of promyelocytes in peripheral blood and in the bone marrow. A disease of dogs and cats with bleeding tendencies, anemia and a susceptibility to septicemia with a fatal outcome within a few weeks.

stem cell leukemia

leukemia in which the predominating cell is so immature and primitive that its classification is difficult.

subleukemic leukemia

aleukemic leukemia.

undifferentiated leukemia

an acute myeloproliferative disorder in which the cells involved cannot be identified.

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